Command, Commandment The term commandment in the Bible (mainly Heb. miswa [hw.xim]; Gk. entole [ejntolhv]) refers to orders or adjurations given by au...
Kill, Killing The Old Testament. The Old Testament uses many terms to refer to the act ofkilling, some of which can be used interchangeably (see 2 Sa...
Overview - Hebrews 9 1?The description of the rites and bloody sacrifices of the law; 11?which are far inferior to the dignity and perfection of the b...
Overview - Habakkuk 1 1?Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, 5?is shewn the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans. 12?He complains th...
Murder [N] [T] [E] [S]The Old Testament. Although the Israelites did not have a term that precisely fits our present-day idea of murder, they differen...
Punishment [N] [E]Earthly Punishment. The Old Testament. Early in Israel's history, guilt and punishment were understood to be communal. When Achan br...
Curse, Accursed In the Old Testament being cursed includes loss of everything significant and a lowering to the most menial of positions. The serpent ...
Acts 14:17 Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness Of his kindness and goodness to them, during this long interval and period of time; for t...
Second Death [N] This phrase is found only in Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 20:14, and 21:8. The Targums use it ( Deut 33:6 ; Psalm 49:11 ). Philo uses the ...
Overview - Genesis 15 1?God encourages Abram, who complains for want of an heir. 4?God promises him a son, and a multiplying of his seed. 6?Abram is...
Customa tax imposed by the Romans. The tax-gatherers were termed publicans (q.v.), who had their stations at the gates of cities, and in the public hi...
Exodus 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea With his rod in it, as he was directed to, ( Exodus 14:16 ) . What the poet says F26 of Bac...
Teach, Teacher Although several Hebrew words are translated teach in English translations of the Old Testament, two words predominate: yara [h'ry], to...
Land (of Israel) The Abrahamic Covenant and the Land. The Lord cut an unconditional covenant with Abraham in which he stated, To your descendants I gi...
Devote, Devoted The Hebrew noun used to denote exclusive dedication of something to God is herem [,rej]. The root idea is separation and exclusion. Th...
Firstfruits [S](Heb. resit [tyivaer]; Gk. aparche [ajparchv]). The concept of firstfruits derives from God's creation work. Because God created everyt...
Follow, Follower The noun follower is seldom used in Scripture for the people of God, possibly due to its frequent references to idol worshipers ( Deu...
Cloud, Cloud of the Lord The Old Testament. The Literal Cloud. Natural phenomena involving clouds are depicted occasionally in the Old Testament, but ...
Poor and Poverty, Theology of Poverty in Scripture can be both social and spiritual. The words poor and poverty cover a wide range of meaning, overlap...
Hospitality [N] [T] [S]Hospitality plays no small role in the realm of biblical ethics. Biblical admonitions exhorted the Israelites and the early Chr...